Avatele, formerly known as Oneonepata Matavaihala, is one of the fourteen villages of Niue, located on the southwest coast,[2] with a population of 128 residents as of 2022.[1]
Avatele Beach, the village's main sea track, stretches along the coast of Avatele Bay and is the largest and most well-known beach on the island. Although the sand is mostly of the coarse kind it is an important swimming and picnic site for both tourists and residents. Prior to the construction of the Sir Robert Rex Wharf and Hannan International Airport in Alofi, Avatele Beach was the principal landing place for many visitors to the island.
Historyedit
Avatele, along with the villages Mutalau, Tuapa, Alofi and Hakupu, were the first major village settlements of Niue following settlement by Polynesian voyagers from Samoa, Tonga and Pukapuka before the year 1300.
The beach was also the site of Captain James Cook's third and final landing attempt on the island before naming Niue "Savage Island" in 1774, since then it has been the landing and official welcoming site of many prominent figures from across the Pacific and the world such as missionaries Rev. George Lawes, his brother Dr. Frank Lawes and former Governor-Generals of Niue and New Zealand such as Sir Paul Reeves.
The village was first Christianized in early 1854 when a resident, Muatoga, asked Paulo, the Samoan missionary residing in Mutalau, to bring the gospel to his village in the far-south and Paulo agreed. The village received its first pastor that same year, a Rev. Samuela from Samoa who was sent by Paulo to care for the young church at Avatele, a village of over 1,000 residents at the time. Since 1854, 14 Pastors have been entrusted with the care of the Church in the village both from around Niue and overseas, including the current Rev Petesa Sionetuato. The village has also birthed its own share of missionaries over the years such as the respected ancestor or tupuna Rev. Sionepaea Kinimotu who played a major role in the Christianization of Tuvalu.
In 1888 the village was one of the main harbours of Niue and was the location of the mission training school.[3] In 1889 the village church was destroyed by a tropical cyclone.[4]
Peopleedit
Avatele has also produced its fair share of prominent Niueans past and present, including Niue's late inaugural Premier Sir Robert Rex, his late brother and long-serving Senior Advisor to Government Leslie Rex OBE, the late Rev. Ikiua Lupo, first President of the Ekalesia Kerisiano Niue, the late Takelesi Lagaluga, first Niuean Head of a Government Department, and his son Hon. Himalea Takelesi, Niue's first High Commissioner to New Zealand and former Member of Parliament. Renowned All BlackFrank Bunce is also descended from the village and is the nephew of both Sir Robert Rex and Rev. Ikiua Lupo.
Current prominent and Avateleans of interest include:
Hon. Billy Talagi - Avatele Representative MP (1999–2020)
^"The Latest Annexation". Daily Telegraph. 8 October 1888. p. 2. Retrieved 4 December 2022 – via Papers Past.
^"TERRIFIC HURRICANE AT SAVAGE ISLAND". Auckland Star. 18 May 1889. p. 2. Retrieved 4 December 2022 – via Papers Past.
January 01, 1970
avatele, formerly, known, oneonepata, matavaihala, fourteen, villages, niue, located, southwest, coast, with, population, residents, 2022, oneonepata, matavaihala, village, beach, council, within, niueadministrative, niue, showing, villagescoordinates, 9countr. Avatele formerly known as Oneonepata Matavaihala is one of the fourteen villages of Niue located on the southwest coast 2 with a population of 128 residents as of 2022 1 Avatele Oneonepata Matavaihala VillageAvatele BeachAvatele council within NiueAdministrative map of Niue showing all the villagesCoordinates 19 03 S 169 54 W 19 05 S 169 9 W 19 05 169 9Country NiueTribal AreaTafitiGovernment Assemblyman MPHon Billy Graham Talagi 1999 Village Council ChairpersonKanetoni Ikimotu 2009 Area Total13 99 km2 5 40 sq mi Population 2022 1 Total128 Density9 15 km2 23 7 sq mi Time zoneUTC 11 UTC 11 Area code 683 Contents 1 Geography 2 History 3 People 4 ReferencesGeography editAvatele Beach the village s main sea track stretches along the coast of Avatele Bay and is the largest and most well known beach on the island Although the sand is mostly of the coarse kind it is an important swimming and picnic site for both tourists and residents Prior to the construction of the Sir Robert Rex Wharf and Hannan International Airport in Alofi Avatele Beach was the principal landing place for many visitors to the island History editAvatele along with the villages Mutalau Tuapa Alofi and Hakupu were the first major village settlements of Niue following settlement by Polynesian voyagers from Samoa Tonga and Pukapuka before the year 1300 The beach was also the site of Captain James Cook s third and final landing attempt on the island before naming Niue Savage Island in 1774 since then it has been the landing and official welcoming site of many prominent figures from across the Pacific and the world such as missionaries Rev George Lawes his brother Dr Frank Lawes and former Governor Generals of Niue and New Zealand such as Sir Paul Reeves The village was first Christianized in early 1854 when a resident Muatoga asked Paulo the Samoan missionary residing in Mutalau to bring the gospel to his village in the far south and Paulo agreed The village received its first pastor that same year a Rev Samuela from Samoa who was sent by Paulo to care for the young church at Avatele a village of over 1 000 residents at the time Since 1854 14 Pastors have been entrusted with the care of the Church in the village both from around Niue and overseas including the current Rev Petesa Sionetuato The village has also birthed its own share of missionaries over the years such as the respected ancestor or tupuna Rev Sionepaea Kinimotu who played a major role in the Christianization of Tuvalu In 1888 the village was one of the main harbours of Niue and was the location of the mission training school 3 In 1889 the village church was destroyed by a tropical cyclone 4 People editAvatele has also produced its fair share of prominent Niueans past and present including Niue s late inaugural Premier Sir Robert Rex his late brother and long serving Senior Advisor to Government Leslie Rex OBE the late Rev Ikiua Lupo first President of the Ekalesia Kerisiano Niue the late Takelesi Lagaluga first Niuean Head of a Government Department and his son Hon Himalea Takelesi Niue s first High Commissioner to New Zealand and former Member of Parliament Renowned All Black Frank Bunce is also descended from the village and is the nephew of both Sir Robert Rex and Rev Ikiua Lupo Current prominent and Avateleans of interest include Hon Billy Talagi Avatele Representative MP 1999 2020 Rev Matagi Jessop Vilitama Ekalesia Avatele Pastor 1996 2007 Rev Petesa Pokopokotau Sionetuato Ekalesia Avatele Pastor 2008 present References edit a b Niue Census of Population and Housing 2022 Niue Statistics Office Retrieved 20 March 2024 1558551 x a j h Avatele on OpenStreetMap The Latest Annexation Daily Telegraph 8 October 1888 p 2 Retrieved 4 December 2022 via Papers Past TERRIFIC HURRICANE AT SAVAGE ISLAND Auckland Star 18 May 1889 p 2 Retrieved 4 December 2022 via Papers Past Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Avatele amp oldid 1214764702, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
